Form lock



D. R. WELLS March 30, 1965 FORM LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 20. 1964 wwx INVENTOR DAV/D WELLS @ada/V T TOR/VE Y March 30, 1965 D. R. WELLS 3,175,797

FORM LOCK Filed Jan. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DAV/D R, WELLS ATTURNEY nited States The present invention relates to forming accessories and, more particularly, to a form lock' that is usefnl in conjunction' with the setting offorms for concrete and the like.

Previously, many separate manufacturers and inventors have built, providedand'devised various types of form ties and`nvel forming devices and lock mechanisms which are intended for use in the setting of form workpreliminary` to the pouring of concrete walls, decks and columns.

Diiferent types of form ties which pass between 'opposedform members have beenl manufactured and are now in widespread use in both commercial andtresidential` construction. While the particular construction of the ditferenttypes of? form ties wouldseem to be readily adaptable to either homebuildingor commercial construction, it has in practice been found that some of the systmsfheretofore used in residential construction are not readilyQad-aptable to the forming requirements of` commercialor heavier types of construction. From ties of twisted wireand the like havel not proved completely satisfactory where the walls that `are to`be poured-are considerablythicker than the eight and ten inch' wall comm'on" in"` home building practice; ln order to assure the proper alignment 'oftorm work and nto avoid the troubles that would be associatedwithfform'tie failure, itlha's becomesinecessary'to provide at form tie andlock system whichismorefreliable and which can bermade to withstandthe Iforces associatedwith' the pouring of larger or higher walls at increased pour rates.'V

With these inereasedseifvice requirements, manufacturers have 4again become interested ina rod 'type ofv formtiey Rod type form ties' almost universally provide a tension segment tormedfof rodmaterial which extends'between theform walls.'` Flange members are provided on the rod"`tie` atregulated` distances aparttoA keepthe fo'rrrt'mer'nbers tom"collapsing` inwardly. In? diife'rentde'si'gnsthese angeslmaybelprovided by a sep# arate: member welded, keyetllorf otherwiseA held on" th'ei rodlor, in'sorne instances; the positioning andholding of' the'. flange' or theiiangeitself may be providedlby wire upset techniques. Outwardly 'from thetl'anges the" pre; sently preferred tie rods' provide a' button endwhichl may relation; 4

Since rod? ties of'the described 'type are widely acceptedgusedfand approved,thepresentinvention'has; as a` ii'rst objective; the provision of a form clamp' for" use:

with' such rod types'of 'form'ties Another fobiect ofthe present invention' is the? provision ofa form" clamp' whichma'y'be used with a tierrod' on" Another object of `this invention is the provision of a' form clamp and tie rod systemthat may be manufactured:

and'nsed more economically.

` atent A further object of this invention is toiprovide a form clamp which will hold form members, tie rods, walers and the clampsin desired assembled relation;

Another object of this invention is to provide a form clamp and tie system of the'foregoing type which will provide preliminary support for such elements when the form clamp is applied but is still untightenedwh'ereby adjustments in the positioning of any of the separate elements may be conveniently made priorto the final setting of such forms by the tighteningof the form lock.

A furtherV object of this invention is to provide a form lock which maybe made upY of stamped and shaped metal pieces to provideeconomies in construction.

Another object is to provide aform lock whichis made of separate pieces'wh'ereby the separate piecesmay4 be made selectively of metals which, with or without heat treating, provide the most economical and serviceable construction.

A further object 'of this invention is to provide a form lock in which the tensioning member moves reciprocally along the axis of the tie rod whereby the tie rod is tree of lateral bending and sheer loads.

A companion objective is'the provision ot a form lock which wiil serve to etliciently and easily apply the neces-` sary tension forces to a tie'rod and whichmay be readily released even after the concrete wall has been completed.`

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended'description and drawings, in which p FIG. 1 isa top plan view in partial-section showing a form clamp of this invention applied to a rod utype-tie;

FIGS 2 isla-side elevation in partial section showing further details ot"constructin,

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view similar tothat of FIG: 1`y showing theV means ofengagement between the form clamp and tie rod button,

Y FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional line Li-VotVFlG'. 2',V

FIG. 5 is a` front elevation showing details of` an assembled mechanism,

FlG. 6 isa back elevation showing additional'details'- of construction,- and FlG. 7fis a perspective drawing. further illustrating features Aof the assembly and operation;

Briefly stated, the presentV invention provides a form lock for use in conjunction" with concrete forming activil ties. The form lock is intended for use with' rodf type plan viewV taken along the ties in which the` buttonendsiof the' ties Barely extend:

through the form walls. Theform lock includes a sup-V portst'ructure which providespivot support'and Vseparate guide elements for a rotatably movable handle and` cam actuator mechanism. The'cam'surtacefof'suchmechanism:

engages an `elementlof a reciprocatingIcatchiarrn'which `is` constrained to move reciprocally toward and away from a form engaging-facci of such support'structure .When a;

forked h o'ok element of 'such'catchis'engagedfwith the` but` ton end ofthe tie rod and when thecam actuatoris "rotated,

the catch` arnrwill! be moved recipro'cally away from theV form to liold the concerete form securely engaged betweenthellange of the tie rodandthe form face of'the.

tensionof the support structure-tothe securely heldin postion 'of the `form lockandagainst the form.

The detailed features of an embodiment of the invention are shown in the accompanying figures. In these figures the numeral 11 indicates the form lock mechanism in its entirety, while the numeral 12 is applied to the form tie. As previously indicated, the form tie is made up of a rod segment 13 which extends between form pieces 14. The rod 13 provides support for flanges 16 which are positioned apart a distance corresponding to the width of a wall that is to be poured between the form pieces 14. These flanges are customarily held on the rod segment 13 either by welding or by metal forming processes which provide a shoulder or other connection between the rod and the flange. Outwardly from the flanges the tie rod 12 provides a button end 17 which in most instances is formed by a wire upsetting type of process.

The tie rods that are to be used in connection with the form lock of the present invention should be designed so that the button 17 extends beyond the form piece 14 only a slight distance so that an element of the form lock may be engaged behind the enlarged button to hold the tie 12 and to apply tension forces thereto.

The form lock 11 includes a support structure 21 which is formed by metal punching and bending techniques from a single piece of fiat stock metal. When in its formed relation the metal of the support structure 21 provides an upright back 22, a horizontal top surface 23, a form engaging face 24 disposed parallel to the back 22 but on opposite ends of the top surface 23, a bottom 26 and a return leg 27 which is bent upwardly parallel to the back 22 and preferably in a plane aligned therewith.

In the manufacture of the support structure 21, the bending of the back 22 is accomplished together with a punching operation which severs a plurality of tabs 28 out of the punchouts 29 and arranges such tabs in the plane of the back 22. As shown in FIGURE 2, the tabs 28 and the return leg 27 are in such manner cooperatively formed to provide a gap 30 which serves as a guide and support for the actuator cam and handle element 31.

In the fabrication of the support structure 21, several additional punched cutouts are provided. First, a pair of holes 32 are provided through the top and bottom surfaces 23 and 26, respectively, for the reception of a cam pivot 33. In similar manner elongated guide openings 34 are provided in the top and bottom surfaces, respectively to receive and guide the follower pin 36. The front face 24 of the structure 21 is provided with a rectangular opening 37 which continues and communicates with a button passage opening 38 of smaller size in the bottom surface 26. As indicated, the opposed and aligned openings 32 provide support for the cam pivot 33 which is generally disposed in a vertical plane to provide rotary support for the actuator-cam handle element 31.

This cam-handle 31 itself is preferably formed by a metal stamping process so that the main structure of such element can be provided to include a circular disk 41, an outwardly extending handle 42 and a punched cam formed opening 43 in the disk surface 41 designed and positioned so that the inner and outer edges 44 and 46 of the cam opening 43 are disposed on a convoluted path with respect to the central pivot 33. The opening 43 is properly sized to receive the follower pin 36. When the follower pin 36 is engaged in the cam opening 43 and the handle 42 is rotated about the cam pivot 33, the follower pin 36 will be caused to move reciprocally in the guide opening 34 due to the action of the cam surfaces 44 and 46 of cam opening 43. This reciprocal movement is transmitted to the catch arm 47 which is secured to the follower pin 36. In preferred construction both the cam-handle element 31 and the follower pin 36 are of wear-resistant hardness so that the form lock 11 may be repeatedly used without excessive damage or wear to such elements. As illustrated, it is further desirable that cam-handle 31 be guided in its rotational movement about cam pivot 33 to minimize any misalignment or bending tendencies. Return leg 27, tabs 28, and the spaced gap 30 therebetween provide additional guidance constraining cam-handle 31 to the desired movement pattern even though hammers or lever extensions are applied to the handle 42.

Reciprocally moving catch arm 47 is substantially a U-shaped member having upper and lower legs 48 and 49 joined each to eachV by the face element 51. The legs are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the top and bottom segments 23 and 26 of the support structure 21. This spacing helps to guide the reciprocal movement of the catch arm 47 as energized by follower pin 36 which is disposed between the leg elements 43 and 49 and is joined thereto.

Face element 51 is punched out to provide a hook slot 57 conveniently adapted to pass over the rod portion 13 of a form tie 12 but of such size as to engage the button 17 of such form tie 12. Hook slot 57 communicates with an enlarged opening 58 which is of size corresponding to the size of button passage opening 38 in the support structure 21. With this construction the button 17 of tie rods 12 may be admitted through the openings 38 and 58 so that the head or button 17 will be engaged behind the hook slot 57. Preferably, hook slot S7 is of such size that it closely engages the opposite sides of rod segment 13 of form ties 12. With this arrangement, the form lock 11 may be placed over exposed tie rod buttons to be held loosely in desired position when forms are being arranged in approximately their required positions. With this loose engagement adjustments in the positioning of a form wall may be made before the form locks 11 are completely tightened. This preliminary loose engagement feature is of further benet, since it facilitates the placement of walers and other form bracing elements.

While the form locks and the catch arms 47 of such form locks are loosely engaged on the tie rod buttons 17, it is relatively easy to place walers in position above the top surface of the support structure 21. When in the desired position, such walers will be engaged by the upright back 22 of the support structure 21. The desired position of engagement will be maintained by a raised dimple 52 on the forward surface of the back 22 which impinges in the surface of the waler when the camhandle 31 has been moved to a locked position. A further waler position maintaining function is served through provision of a nail opening 53 punched in the back 22. A nail inserted through the opening 53 and driven into a waler can be used to hold the waler in proper position with respect to the form lock 11 or to hold a plurality of form locks 11 in desired relative positions along a form wall without the necessity of tightening the cam locks.

In actual operation these described preliminary positioning features may be used separately or conjointly to provide an improved system for positioning and aligning concrete form members prior to the actual locking of the form locks. After such positioning features have been used and when the forms are in their desired placement, the form locks 11 may all be locked by rotating the actuator cam-handles 31 so that a tension force is exerted against the tie rod button 17 which is resisted by the flanges 16 on one side of the form piece 14 and by engagement on the opposite side of the form piece with the form face 24 of support structure 21 or alternately with the inwardly disposed edge of a waler clamped between the form piece 14 and the upright back 22 of such support structure 21. Under either condition (and it should be recognized that use of the waler is not required), a tight and secure assembly results.

Some of the main advantages of the present embodiment of the invention are inherent in the fact that the tie rod used with this form lock does not haveto be long enough to `extend out to the edge of the waler. The button 17 need extend only slightly through the form pieces 14. This saving of tie rod "length can represent a considerable economy when the multi-use nature'of the form locks is considered.. O ver a long p eriod lof use'rtlhesavings in tie rod cost due to the shorter-length could'easily total the cost of the f orm locks themselves.

A further advantage is obtained inasmuch as the force acting on the tie rods is a direct tension force and little tendency to bend the tie rods is observed during the application or release of the present form lock. The form ties are not bent or subjected to sheer forces, and, accordingly, the tie rod design does not have to contemplate the application of such forces. Reduction in cross-sectional size is possible, and it has further been noted that break-back ties may be used without fear of premature failure due to side loadings.

Many of these advantageous features of the present invention could be incorporated in other embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, while one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood .that all embodiments of the invention coming within the scope of the hereunto appended claims are considered to be a part of this invention.

I claim:

1. A form lock for use with button type form ties to maintain concrete construction forms in place during concrete pouring operations comprising a support structure of plate material providing spaced apart opposed elements, a form face extending between said opposed elements for disposition toward said construction forms and a back opposite said face and spaced away from said construction forms, a cam pivot disposed between the opposed elements of said support structure, a rotating cam for movement about said cam pivot, a catch arm for movement with respect to said structure toward and away from the form face thereof, means interconnecting said cam and catch arm whereby rotation of said cam energizes the movement of said catch arm, and form tie engaging means on ysaid catch arm and positioned adjacent said form face to exert tension forces against said form ties as the said catch arm is moved with respect to said form face.

2. A form lock for use with button type form ties to maintain concrete construction forms and walers in place during concrete pouring operations comprising a support structure of plate material providing spaced apart opposed elements, a form face extending between said opposed elements for disposition toward sa1d construction forms and a back opposite said face and spaced away from said construction forms with a portion of said back extending in normal relation away from the outer surface of one of said opposed elements for engagement with said waler, a cam pivot disposed between the opposed elements of said support structure, a rotating cam for movement about said cam pivot, a catch arm for movement with respect to said structure toward and away from the form face thereof, means interconnecting said cam and catch arm whereby rotation of said cam energizes the movement of said catch arm, and hook elements on said catch arm and positioned adjacent said form face to exert tension forces against said form ties as the said Catch arm is moved with respect to said form face.

3. A form lock for use With button type rod form ties to maintain concrete construction forms and walers in place during concrete pouring operations comprising a support structure of plate material formed to provide spaced apart opposed elements, a form face extending between said opposed elements for disposition toward said construction forms and a back opposite said face and spaced away from said construction forms with a portion of said back extending in normal relation away from the outer surface of one of said opposed elements for engagement with `said waler, a cam pivot disposed between the opposed elements of said support structure, a rotating cam for movement about said cam pivot,A a catch arm restrained'for reciprocal movement with respect to said support structure toward, and away from the" form face thereof, means interconnecting usaid cam and catch arm whereby rotationof said camA energizes the movel ment`of `said catch arm, and" hook elements on said catch arm Vand positioned adjacent said form face to exert tension forces against said form ties as the said catch arm is moved with respect to said form face.

4. A form lock for use with rod form ties to maintain concrete construction forms and walers in place during concrete pouring operations comprising a support structure of plate material formed to provide spaced apart opposed elements, a form face extending between said opposed elements for disposition toward said construction forms and a back opposite said face and spaced away from said construction forms with a portion of said back extending in normal relation away from the outer surface of one of said opposed elements to engage and hold a waler supported on the said outer surface of said opposed element, a cam pivot disposed between the opposed elements of said support structure, a rotating cam for movement about said cam pivot, a catch arm restrained for reciprocal movement with respect to said support structure toward and away from the form face thereof, a follower on said catch arm engaged with said cam whereby rotational movement of `said cam energizes the movement of said catch arm, and hook elements on said catch arm and positioned adjacent said form face to exert tension forces against said form ties as the said catch arm is moved with respect to said form face.

5. A form lock for use with rod type form ties to maintain concrete construction forms and walers in place during concrete pouring operations comprising a support structure of plate material formed to provide spaced apart opposed elements, a form face extending between said opposed elements for disposittion toward said construction forms and a back opposite said face and spaced away from said construction forms with a portion of said back extending in normal relation away from the outer surface of one of said opposed elements to engage and hold a waler supported on the said outer surface of said opposed element, a cam pivot disposed between the opposed elements of said support structure, a cam-handle for movement about said cam pivot providing a convolute cam surface, a catch arm restrained for reciprocal movement with respect to said support structure toward and away from the form face thereof, a follower on said catch arm engaged with the cam surface of said cam-handle whereby rotational movement of said camhandle energizes the reciprocal movement of said catch arm, and hook elements on said catch arm and positioned adjacent said form face to exert tension forces against said form ties as the said catch arm is moved with respect to said form face and construction forms.

6. A form lock for use with rod type form ties to maintain concrete construction forms and walers in place during concrete pouring operations comprising a support structure of plate material formed to provide spaced apart opposed elements, a form face extending between said opposed elements for disposition toward said construction forms and a back opposite said face and spaced away from said construction forms with a portion of said back extending in normal relation away from the outer surface of one of said opposed elements to engage and hold a waler supported on the said outer surface of said opposed element, a cam pivot disposed between the opposed elements of said support structure, a cam-handle for movement about said cam pivot, a cam surface on said cam-handle providing a progressive reciprocating displacement with respect to said cam pivot as the camhandle is rotated about said pivot, a catch arm restrained for reciprocal movement with respect to said support structure toward and away from the form face thereof, a follower on said catch arm engaged with the cam surface of said cam-handle whereby rotational movement of said cam-handle energizes the reciprocal movement of said catch arm, and hook elements on said catch arm and positioned adjacent said form face to exert tension forces against said form ties as the said catch arm is moved with respect to said form face and construction forms.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A FOAM LOCK FOR USE WITH BUTTON TYPE FORM TIES TO MAINTAIN CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION FORMS IN PLACE DURING CONCRETE POURING OPERATIONS COMPRISING A SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF PLATE MATERIAL PROVIDING SPACED APART OPPOSED ELEMENTS, A FORM FACE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID OPPOSED ELEMENTS FOR DISPOSITION TOWARD SAID CONSTRUCTION FORMS AND A BACK OPPOSITE SAID FACE AND SPACED AWAY FROM SAID CONSTRUCTION FORMS, A CAM PIVOT DISPOSED BETWEEN THE OPPOSED ELEMENTS OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A ROTATING CAM FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID CAM PIVOT, A CATCH ARM FOR MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID STRUCTURE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE FORM FACE THEREOF, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CAM AND CATCH ARM WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID CAM ENERGIZES THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CATCH ARM, AND FORM TIE ENGAGING MEANS ON SAID CATCH ARM AND POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FORM FACE TO EXERT TENSION FORCES AGAINST SAID FORM TIES AS THE SAID CATCH ARM IS MOVED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FORM FACE. 